Negotiations are also under way with the European Union of Gymnastics.

The games will be held every four years.

The idea for a European Games had been under consideration for years, but this was the first time the EOC voted. The already crowded sports calendar had been among the main concerns.

"These first games will be very much a trial and test run for a huge event in 2019," said EOC President Patrick Hickey.

"My idea is that this would become a qualifier for the Olympic Games in 2020 for certain sports. We have to negotiate with certain federations."

Athletics and swimming world championships have already been scheduled for 2015. The athletics event will be held in Beijing in August, while the swimming competition is slated for Kazan, Russia, in July.

In a statement, European Athletics ruled out any involvement for 2015 although the governing body left the door open for possible participation after that.

"2015 is for us not possible as we already have contractual obligations to honor," it said.

"Nowadays, though, the future is requesting a strong coordination between sports bodies and other parties such as television for example, in order to be successful. If this coordination can be achieved, then European Athletics is open to looking to such solutions."

Athletics and swimming European championships will be held in 2014.

European swimming federation (LEN) President Paolo Barelli said: "We're open to looking at our options and we don't want to say 'No' before the fact, but the calendar is already packed and 2015 is around the corner,"

Baku submitted a bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics but was eliminated when the IOC selected a shortlist of three finalists in May.